A major study finally reveals the secrets on the genetics of breast cancer

In this breast cancer awareness month, two major articles on the subject were published in Nature and Nature Genetics. The studies, the result of a major international collaboration involving hundreds of researchers worldwide, identified 72 new common variants that contribute to the risk of developing breast cancer.

Professor Jacques Simard, researcher at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre in Québec City and Canada Research Chair in Oncogenetics, is one of the lead authors of this important work. After four years of work on his research project, the Québec researcher obtained the data that will allow a better understanding of breast cancer genetics. These results will facilitate the implementation of an efficient early screening of women more at risk.